Parly sacks secretary for misconduct

Parliament has sacked its secretary Zingile Dingani with immediate effect.

Last week, a disciplinary panel recommended that Dingani be fired after he was found guilty on two of nine charges of misconduct relating to a salary advance he secured from Parliament.

Proposing a motion in the National Assembly today, ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga noted that on December 1, 2011, Dingani requested Parliament’s executive authority – Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu and National Council of Provinces chairperson Mninwa Mahlangu – to approve a “salary advance” of R186?000 to build a security wall at his home.

They approved the request on the basis that Dingani had asserted that Parliament’s policies provided for salary advances.

Allegations then emerged that the salary advance was improper and Dingani was put on special paid leave on April 5 while the matter was investigated by the Auditor-General (AG).

The AG recommended disciplinary action against Dingani and the then chief finance officer, Leslie Mondo, for their involvement in the approval of the advance to Dingani.

Mondo was recently dismissed after being found guilty on a number of charges.

The disciplinary hearing against Dingani found him guilty of misleading the executive authority about Parliament’s policy on salary advances.

He was also found guilty of contravening the Public Finance Management Act by securing an interest-free loan of R186 000.

Motshekga’s motion asked the House to accept the committee’s findings and to approve Dingani’s dismissal with immediate effect.

Brown Dash, Tebogo “Zombo” Ndlovu, Brenda Fassie and Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde had more in common than just their incredible musical talents: despite their fame and the potential fortune that came with it, they died broke.